An Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method/system for irrigating a field using a pump comprising an outlet supplying water to the field and an inlet connected to a water source is disclosed. The method/system comprises a sensor placed at a location in the field for sensing a water depth below a surface of the field and transmitting the water depth to a controller located remotely from the sensing location using a wireless connection. The controller enables the pump when the sensed water depth is below a threshold depth and disables the pump when the sensed water depth is above a threshold depth.

Several embodiments provide wireless irrigation system and related methods. In one implementation, an irrigation system includes a plurality of valves; a plurality of solenoids; a plurality of circuits, at least one circuit in a circuit housing attached at least partially to a dedicated solenoid housing of a respective one of the plurality of solenoids; a plurality of wireless transceivers, at least one wireless transceiver in the circuit housing attached at least partially to the dedicated solenoid housing of the respective one of the plurality of solenoids and configured to wirelessly communicate via a communication network; and the communication network comprising the plurality of wireless transceivers for communication with the plurality of solenoids.

Disclosed embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for upgrading an existing irrigation system to increase its sensing and control capability without requiring extensive rewiring. A controller module is installed between an irrigation controller and a zone valve and physically proximate to the irrigation controller without disturbing most of the existing wiring between the irrigation controller and the zone valve. A field module is installed between the controller module and the zone valve without disturbing most of the existing wiring between the irrigation controller and the zone valve. The controller module and field module are the communicatively coupled primarily using the existing wiring. The controller module may encode commands transmitted to the field module and/or decode encoded data transmitted from the field module. The field module may encode data transmitted to the controller module and/or decode encoded commands transmitted from the controller module.

In some embodiments, provide an irrigation sensor system, comprising: a rain funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening to a lower aperture; and a tipping bucket positioned to receive water falling from the lower aperture while the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel.

A method and system for irrigating a field adjacent a watercourse is disclosed comprising a plurality of pumps along the watercourse and measuring from time to time at a plurality of measuring locations the salinity, the pH, the temperature and the turbidity of the water. The measuring locations are different from the pumping locations. A real time salinity, pH, temperature and turbidity at the pumping locations is predicted from the measured values and the pumps selectively disabled or enabled on the predicted salinity, pH, temperature and/or the turbidity.

A method and system for irrigating a field adjacent a watercourse is disclosed comprising a plurality of pumps along the watercourse and measuring from time to time at a plurality of measuring locations the salinity, the pH, the temperature and the turbidity of the water. The measuring locations are different from the pumping locations. A real time salinity, pH, temperature and turbidity at the pumping locations is predicted from the measured values and the pumps selectively disabled or enabled on the predicted salinity, pH, temperature and/or the turbidity.

Additionally, there is disclosed an Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method/system for irrigating a field using a pump comprising an outlet supplying water to the field and an inlet connected to a water source. The method/system comprises a sensor placed at a location in the field for sensing a water depth below a surface of the field and transmitting the water depth to a controller located remotely from the sensing location using a wireless connection. The controller enables the pump when the sensed water depth is below a threshold depth and disables the pump when the sensed water depth is above a threshold depth.

An intelligent cultivation apparatus includes a sensor, configured to measure plants cultivation environment parameter data; a controller, configured to generate plants cultivation status information based at least on the measured plants cultivation environment parameter data; and a cultivation suggestion generator, configured to generate a targeted cultivation suggestion based at least on a plants cultivation database and the plants cultivation status information. The intelligent cultivation apparatus further includes a camera configured for capturing images of the plants, wherein the cultivation suggestion generator generates the targeted cultivation suggestion based on the images of the plants, the plants cultivation database and the plants cultivation status information. The cultivation suggestion generator further configured to combine the targeted cultivation suggestion with the plants cultivation status information, for adjusting calculating parameters of the cultivation suggestion generator and updating the plants cultivation database.

Several embodiments provide wireless irrigation system and related methods. In one implementation, an irrigation system includes a plurality of valves; a plurality of solenoids; a plurality of circuits, at least one circuit in a circuit housing attached at least partially to a dedicated solenoid housing of a respective one of the plurality of solenoids; a plurality of wireless transceivers, at least one wireless transceiver in the circuit housing attached at least partially to the dedicated solenoid housing of the respective one of the plurality of solenoids and configured to wirelessly communicate via a communication network; and the communication network comprising the plurality of wireless transceivers for communication with the plurality of solenoids.

In some embodiments, provide an irrigation sensor system, comprising: a rain funnel comprising an upper opening and at least one wall tapering from the upper opening to a lower aperture; and a tipping bucket positioned to receive water falling from the lower aperture while the tipping bucket is positioned such that a central longitudinal axis of the tipping bucket is not aligned with an axis extending through the lower aperture of the funnel.

Several embodiments provide wireless irrigation control and related methods. In one implementation, an irrigation control system includes a transmitter unit including a controller and a connector to be coupled to an irrigation controller having station actuation output connectors. The controller is can receive an indication that the irrigation controller has activated an irrigation station, and can cause the transmitter unit to transmit a wireless activation signal responsive to the indication. A receiver unit is coupled to an actuator coupled to an actuatable device, such as an irrigation valve, the actuator configured to actuate the irrigation valve to control the flow of water therethrough. The receiver unit receives the wireless activation signal and in response, causes the actuator to actuate the actuatable device.